Equity and Evidence: Data Tools to Inform Paid Family Leave Policymaking

PRINT

Research shows that paid family leave is one of the most effective policies that a state can implement to lay a strong foundation for the rest of a baby’s life, avoiding life-long developmental, educational, social, and health challenges. The Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center at The University of Texas at Austin and ZERO TO THREE hosted a joint webinar exploring how policymakers and advocates can use both the State of Babies Yearbook and the Prenatal-to-3 State Policy Roadmap to inform your state’s efforts to adopt an effective and equitable paid leave policy. Leaders also shared their efforts to adopt and expand paid family leave to enhance equity and wellbeing in their state. Recording and materials are provided below. 

The time after the birth or adoption of a baby is one of the most important periods of development for babies and families, and early relationships can nurture early brain connections. 

Rigorous research studies show that access to paid leave:

  • boosts maternal labor force attachment
  • increases a family’s economic security
  • improves maternal mental health
  • fosters better parent-child relationships
  • supports child health and development
   

Related Resources on Paid Family Leave

   

Speakers

Hosts

  • Myra Jones-Taylor, Ph.D., Chief Policy Officer, ZERO TO THREE
  • Cynthia Osborne, Ph.D., Director, Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center; Associate Dean, LBJ School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin

Guest Speakers

  • Leanne Barrett, Senior Policy Analyst, Rhode Island KIDS COUNT
  • Alison May, Policy Associate, National Conference of State Legislatures
  • Andrea Paluso, Executive Director, Family Forward Oregon
   
   

Watch the Recording

   

Webinar Materials

   

Please contact us if you have questions about the webinar.

Related

Approaches to Improving Early Educators’ Compensation

Early educators remain among the most underpaid workers in the nation despite playing a critical role in child development and enabling workforce participation for parents. Across the country, the median wage for early educators is

Partnering to Enhance Nashville’s Early Literacy Landscape with Nashville Public Library and the Begin Bright Program

TRANSFORMATIVE EARLY LITERACY INITIATIVE AIMS TO BUILD FOUNDATIONAL READING SKILLS IN CHILDREN FOR LONG-TERM SUCCESS.  Press Contact: Sydne Lewis, 615-343-9946, sydne.lewis@vanderbilt.edu The Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center is proud to announce the launch of a comprehensive

The Impact of State Minimum Wage Increases

In the 20 states where the minimum wage is set at the federal level of $7.25 per hour, full-time workers earning the minimum wage are paid well below the federal poverty line, making it difficult